Uncertainty haunts water supply workers

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, February 13: “The 462 employees of the Assam gar Pani Jogan Aru Poi Proli Parishad (AUWSSB) are facing a threat of losing their livelihood after the shifting of the major schemes from AUWSSB to the Guwahati Jal Board (GJB),” said Arupjyoti Das, general secretary, AUWSSB Employees’ Association today at the press meet at the Guwahati Press Club.

Das said: “We are requesting the Chief Minister and the authority concerned to take the responsibility of the future of our employees with necessary action, failing which we have to protest against the authority and fulfil our demands.”

“The Board was established in 1989 by the then President of India, and since then 462 employees of the board were involved with the supply of potable water to every household and earning their livelihood. But, the shifting of the major revenue collecting scheme from the board to the new Jal Board has brought a major fincial crisis to us. Because, the direct revenue is the only source of our income,” said by Rintu Gohain, president, AUWSSB Employees’ Association.

The government has formed the Guwahati Jal Board (GJB) under the new Act of 2009 for the fresh water supply to the public in Guwahati though there are already three organizations for the job. With this, the government has shifted the Zoo Road Water Supply Scheme from AUWSSB to GJB.